Uncle Sam wants small business entrepreneurs to lead the nation to economic recovery--and has billions of dollars to make it happen. Small business owners are in line to receive low-interest loans and government contracts through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). To secure your little corner of the recovery, you'll need to be at the right place with the right … [Read more...]
Partnership for the New Year
This is a wish for all of us - female, male, young, old, every color and part of the planet. Let’s include the animals, trees, and every living thing. Women are the leaders in partnership thinking; we learn it from the very beginning of our journey from womb to tomb. We are hard-wired to think about systems and how they fit together. We are internally programmed every month … [Read more...]
The Untapped Talent Pool – Stay-at-Home Moms
I published the following post well over a year ago, but I want to republish it now because I think it's just as true and valid now (if not more so) than it was in early 2008. We've come so far, but there is much work to do to level the playing field in the business world and eliminate the gender gap. Unconventional thinking like that discussed below is just one way to get … [Read more...]
Wait a Minute Mr. Postman…
Postage is one of those necessary expenses that most of us don’t think deserves a second thought. The cost of postage is fixed, and it’s really not that inconvenient to have to run to the Post Office or UPS store to get a package out the door on time, right? Well, not exactly. Most business owners would be surprised to find out how much money they waste “rounding up” by … [Read more...]
Easy Cost Savings for Small Businesses
One of the most often overlooked cost savings for small businesses is actually pretty simple process: switching to a VoIP or internet-based phone system. Switching is easy, fast, and can save your business thousands of dollars a month on phone-related costs. Over 86% of business owners rate their satisfaction level with their service as “very high,” according to one recent … [Read more...]
Virtual Assisting – a Journey
Guest Post by Kathie M. Thomas (Learn more about Kathie at the end of this post) When I began my business at home almost 15 years ago, it was to escape the corporate world and rat-race and to be home for our five daughters. I was fed up with meeting after meeting after meeting and little time at my desk to get the real work done. I was also fed up with trying to shift my … [Read more...]
What Do I Wear?
Going to work presents a dilemma. Obviously everyone is nervous on their first ever day in the office, but no one expects you to have qualms about going to work the rest of the time. Yet looking in your wardrobe, standing in front of the mirror, hopping on the bus in the morning, do you ever experience a flutter of apprehension? Wonder if you’re giving the right impression? … [Read more...]
Negotiate your way to savings: How to get the best deal on office phone equipment
The telephone was invented in 1876, and the world hasn’t been the same since. While telephone calls have been partially eclipsed by internet contact as the primary mode of communication for most business owners, the phone is still a vital business tool. Think about it- how long could your business survive without phone service? Many business owners put about as much thought … [Read more...]